2020-08-04_INSPECTION - C1981008 (2)

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July 28, 2020 C-1981-008/New Horizon Mine JHB Ditches throughout the mine were in good condition with the exception of the road side ditch on the north side of the Morgan Property. ROADS — Rule 4.03 Drainage 4.03.1(4)/4.03.2(4), Surfacing and Maintenance4.03.1(5) and (6)/4.03.2(5) and (6), Reclamation 4.03.1(7)/4.03.2(7): Sediment had washed over BB County Road north of the Morgan property. Minor maintenance of this portion of the road will be needed to remove the deposited sediment. RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: The Irrigated cropland, IC1 (Morgan Property), is following the previously approved crop rotation schedule. This is considered year 6 in accordance with the seeding and management schedule as described in Permit Table 2.05.4(2)(e)-3. Based upon this crop rotation there are periods soon after replanting that the field will be subject to less vegetative cover, as was the case during this storm. The regional drought has not helped the situation. Mitigation of the sediment by the operator, and close coordination with the farmers will address the soil movement as the rotation crop becomes established. REVEGETATION — Rule 4.15 Vegetative Cover; Timing: Vegetation throughout the mine is very sparse due to the drought conditions, with the exceptions of the areas being irrigated. The reclaimed haul road on the Guire property is still receiving irrigation water and has good cover. Noxious weeds were minimally encountered within the property. Russian olive established in the emergency spillway of Pond 13 needed larger equipment to remove than the hand shovels we had available at the time of the inspection. The operator will need to follow up with removal of this tree. SLIDES and DAMAGE - Rule 4.12: Sediment movement off of the Irrigated Cropland was discussed under the Hydrology section of this report. TOPSOIL — Rule 4.06 Removal 4.06.2; Substitute Materials 4.06.4(4); Storage and Protection 4.06.3; Redistribution 4.06.4: The operator has cut down or dragged annual plants on the topsoil stockpiles located north of BB road. This has created roughened microsites on the pile. Currently there is little growing cover on the topsoil stockpiles, but the microsites appear to have kept the soil from being dislodged during the recent high intensity storms. ERMR will need to continue to monitor these piles to assure that noxious weed species do not become established. If no stabilizing cover becomes established after the summer monsoon rains, ERMR my need to reseed a temporary stabilization seed mix on the topsoil stockpiles north of BB road before this winter. Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 0 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 Page 4 of 11